Garment supporter



0, 1931. F. J. ZIMMERER ET AL 1,831,616

GARMENT SUPPORTER Filed Sept. 17. 1950 Patented Nov. 10,1931

UNITED STATES PATENT FREDERICK J. ZIMMEBER. AND HENRY w. BAUER, or IppLnTowN, CoNNECTIoUnhs- SIGNORS To THE RUSSELL MANUFACTURING OMPA Y, OF MIDDLETOWN, CoN- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT HGARMENT SUPI'oBTER ,VOFFIYVCE 4* Original application filed May 17, 1930, Serial No. 453,200. Divided and this application filed September 1 17, 930. Serial No. 482,512.

This invention relates to garment supporters, such as garters, suspenders, and the like, which include a strap ordinarily of textile material bent to form a loop from which a garment-engaging member is loosely suspended. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a supporter of the type referred to which includes improved means for adjusting the length'of the loop in accordance with the requirements of the wearer. By way of example, a garter embodying the features of the invention will be described in detail, though it is to be understood that the utility of the invention is not limited to this part cular supporter.

Womens garters as ordinarily constructed include a strap of elastic webbing secured at one end to a girdle or the like and bent to form a loop in which a stocking-engaging member is loosely suspended. Attached to the free end of the strap at one side of the loop is an adjusting device which consists of a side of the loop is led through the adjusting device and the loop may be adjusted to any desired length and the deviceset to hold the parts of the strap on opposite sides of the loop in the desired relation.

The adjusting device is made of metal and it re resents a considerable i em in the cost of the supporter. Since the strap passes through the device, the latter is wider than the strap and it has projecting ends which are likely to catch on other garments and tear them. Also, the metal device rusts in the course of time and when laundered is likely 'to sta n the supporter and other garments The new supporter includes a strap of elastic webbing bent to form a loop in which the usual garment-engaging member is suspended in the ordinary manner. The strap is'jprovided with a series of openings arranged in a lengthwise row and secured to the strap near its free end is'a fastening element,-preferably a flat plate of metal of H-shape, attached to the strap near the free end thereof by having one ofits main bars inserted through an opening in the strap, after which a portion of the strap beyond the opening is bent back over the bar and secured to the remainderof the strap. The other main bar of theplate may be inserted in any selected opening in the strap at. the other side of the loop and since the openings are fairly close together, a closeadjustment may be obtained throughout a substantial range.

In order to strengthen and reinforce the strap at the openings to increase the life of the supporter. the strap .is preferably woven so that warp threads which lie on either side plate and a clamping jaw. The strap at one of the line along which the openins'rs are formed are crossed at the ends of the-opene ement is received. 'Preferably'in an elastic fabric which includes strands of rubber, a pair of these rubber strands-are selected as the warp threads which are to be crossed and with this construct on, it will be seen that the strain imposed on the strap bv the fastening device istaken up by afpair of warp threads of rubber crossed in the manner described. These rubber threads also define the side edges of the'openinss and because of their elasticity. they tend to keep the openings from gaping or being distorted. For a better understanding of the invention. reference ma be bad to theaccompanfw inn drawings. in whic Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of agarter constructed in accordance with the pri ciples of the invention i Fig. 2 is aside view thereof:'

Fig. Sis an enlarged lan View showing the manner of forming the openings in the strap:

Fin. 4 illustrates the methodv of securing to the strap;

ings to form crotches in which'the fastening" I so Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the normal position of the fastening device with the modified form of attaclnnent tothe strap;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a fastening or adjusting device of still another construc-' tion; 7 j

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a porion of the strap of a modified construction; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing the manner of weaving the strap illustrated in Fig. 9. Y Referring now to the drawings, the supporter includes a strap ordinarily of elastic webbing. This strap is attached atone end of a girdle or other garment, and the free end is bent to form a loop 21 in which is loosely suspended a garment-engaging member generally designated 22. This member includes a metal loop 23 through which the strap is threaded, a button 24L and a loop 25 cooperating with the button to serve as a means for attaching the supporter to the stocking. The'strap is formed with a plurality of openings 26 lengthwise thereof and these openings are preferably in the form of buttonholes spaced apart a relatively short distance so as to provide a fairly exact adjustment. The openings or buttonholes may be produced in the weaving of the strap which includes warp threads 27 in the form of rubber strands. These'warp threads are spaced apart and have other warp threads 28 of ordinary textile material between them. The openings 26 are formed'between a pair of'adjacent warp threads of rubber 27', and in weaving the openings, the warp threads 27" are led toward each-other and crossed, as indicated at 29, to provide a crotch at one end of the buttonhole. At this point, the'buttonhole is defined by a pair of the crossed threads of elastic material. Those portions of th'e'elast-ic threads which are crossed also define the side edges 30 of the opening and at the other "end of the opening, the threads are recrossed as at 31"and returned to their normal positions. At the ends of the buttonholes', the warp threads 28 which .lie between the elastic strands 27 are .led away from each other and each warp thread 28 is shifted outwardly toward the edge of the fabric by one thread, thus permitting the elastic strands to be brought into crossed relation and 'to lie side. by side throughout the length of the buttonh ole opening without causing distortion of the fabric. At each buttonhole, the filling strands 31 extend from the edges of the fabric to the thereof to be inserted opening at the other buttonhole and around the rubber strands 27 which define the edges of the opening.

The method of weaving the buttonhole above described provides a strong point in the fabric at each end of the opening where strains are imposed in the normal use of the supporter.

Various adjusting or fastening means may be provided'for cooperation with the buttonholes to permit variation in the length of the. loop 21, as for example, a button may be sewed to the strap near the free end at will in any selected side of the loop. A fastening device of the type illustrated in Fig. l is preferable, however, since it is more durable than a button and is of less thickness so that its presence will not cause discomfort to the wearer.

. This fastening-device comprises a metal" plate ofH shape having main bars 32, 33 connected to a cross bar or neck 34. The bar 32 is somewhat wider than the bar 33 but of less width than the strap. This fastening device may be attached to the strap in various ways,

as, for example, the bar 32' may be inserted through the opening 26 at the free end of the strap, after which the portion of the strap lying beyond the buttonhole is folded back as indicated at 35, and may be secured to the re-" mainder of the strap by stitching 36. With this arrangement, the fastening plateis anchored to the end of the strap and accidental displacement is prevented. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the neck 3st of the fastening element is bent slightly so as to cause the'bars 32 and 33 to lie in slightly spaced planes'and'preferablythe bar 33 is-c-urved along its longitudi- 'na'l axis so that its free edge 37lies substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the bar' 32.' v i In assembling the supporter, a strap of the construction described is cut to the desired length and the fastening device secured in place at the free end of the strap by stitching or the like. This end of the strap is then threaded through the loop 23 forming a part of the garment-engaging member and the strap bent to'form the loop 21, the bar 33 of the fastening device being inserted through anyselectedppening 26 in the strap at the other side of the loop. By reasonof the bend in the neck 34, the bar 33 tends to lie flat against the face of the strap adjacent the opening through which the bar is inserted, and the curvature ofthe bar 33 causes the free edge of the barto bear firmly against the face of the strap when tension is put on the strap, thus' preventing accidental displacement.

Should it be desired to vary the adjustment, the bar 33 is merely displaced from one openend of the supporter when the latter has to be laundered, and if desired, the adjusting element itself may be similarly removed from the end of the strap.

With the new construction, it will be apparent that the cost of the supporter is materially reduced over that of supporters formerly used since the simple metal plate which constitutes the fastening or adjusting device is much less expensive than the adjusting devices now ordinarily employed. The new adjusting device does not project outwardly beyond the edges of the supporter so that it cannot catch on other garments, and furthermore, there are no parts of this adjusting device that come in contact with the body of the wearer. Since the device is substantially flat, it does not cause discomfort to the wearer when seated.

An adjusting device of a somewhat similar construction is shown in Fig. 6 but in this form the bar 32 is of double width and its free edge 38 is preferably formed with clamping teeth. The bar 32 is bent upon itself and slipped over the end of the strap, after which the two parts are gripped together to force the teeth into the strap and thus connect the device permanently to the strap. In normal use, the adjusting device in this form is placed as indicated in Fig. 7, in which it will be seen that the strap20 is bent back upon itself over the clamping edge of the device. Thus, a good connection between the strap and device is obtained and the device cannot be accidentally freed from the strap except with extreme difficulty.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a modified form of the device, in which the bar 32 is formedwith an opening 39 through which the end of the strap may be threaded, being bent back upon the remainder of the strap and stitched thereto as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is illustrated a modified form of strap which embodies the principles of the invention. This strap is made of a two-ply material and one ply is provided with a series of openings 26 defined by crossed warp threads of rubber 27. Adjacent each opening are formed pockets 40, one on each side of the opening, these pockets lying between the two plies of the fabric. This type of strap may be employed with a fastening or adjusting device of the sort shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive. hen the fastening element illustrated in Fig. 4 is used the bar 32 may be inserted in a pocket at one side of the loop and the bar 33 inserted in any selected pocl'ret at the other side of the loop. The element is then held in position without the use of stitching and this permits ready removal of the ele ment when the supporter is to be laundered. Stitching may be used if desired, however. When the device is in use, the bar 33 is inserted through an opening 26 in and the bar lies in the pockets between the the upper ply.

two plies.- 1-his constructionzproducesa somewhat stronger strap and the bar 33 of the ad j usting device is wholly concealedin the pockets. The strapillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is not substantially different from that shown in- Fig. 1 except that'an extra ply of material is present and 1the openings 26 are formed in one-ply vonly instead of being formed throughflboth pliesm.

This applica-tion is a division of our. 00-

fined at at least one end bycrossed rubber warp threads providing reinforcement, a garment-engagmg member mounted loosely 1n the loop, and a fastening element secured at one end to the strap and having a portion insertable at will in any opening in the other side of the loop to vary the length thereof, said element being H-shaped.

2. A garment supporter which comprises a fabric strap bent upon itself to form a loop, this fabric being double ply and having a series of spaced'separate pockets formed between the-plies and an opening through one plyinto each pocket, said openings being elongated and defined by warp threads crossed at the ends of the openings to provide reinforcement a garment-engaging member loosely suspended in the loop, and a fastening element having a portion in a pocket at one side of the loop and another portion in a pocket at the other side of the loop.

3. A garment supporter which comprises an elastic fabric strap including rubber warp threads and bent upon itself to form a loop, this fabric being double ply and having a se ries of spaced separate pockets formed between the plies and an opening through one ply into each pocket, said openings being defined by rubber warp threads crossed at the ends of the openings to provide reinforcement a garment-engaging member loosely suspended in the loop and a fastening element of metal having one end anchored in a pocket atone side of the-loop and its other end anchored in a of the loop;

4. A garment supporter which comprises an elastic strap including rubber warp threads and bent upon itself to form a loop and having a row of openings therein, each opening being reinforced at crossed rubber warp threads a garment-engaging member loosely suspended in the loop and a fastening element having a portion gripping the strap at its free end, and another part receivable optionally in any selected pocket at the other side its ends by opening in the strap to vary the length of the loop. 7

'5. A garment supporter which comprises a strap bent upon itself to form a loop and having a row of openings therein, a garmentengaging member loosely suspended in the loop, and a fastening element of H-shape having one side bar secured :to the strap and the second side bar insertable optionally in any selected opening in the strap to vary the length of said loop, the connecting bar of said element being bent to Cause the said sidebars to lie in different planes and one of said side bars being bent along its longitudinal axis so that its free edge lies substantially in the plane of said first side bar.

In testimony whereof We affix our "signatures. V

FREDERICK -J.. HENRY W BAUER. 

